JASHPUR Police seized 440.63 kilograms of illegal cannabis concealed beneath sacks of chilli peppers in a Tata Eicher mini-truck at the Lavakera Police checkpoint near the Odisha border on Friday and arrested two alleged smugglers. According to police, a special anti-narcotics team deployed at Lavakera to check suspicious vehicles entering Jashpur from Odisha intercepted a Tata Eicher mini-truck bearing registration number UP-71-T-6592. The two occupants identified themselves as Mohammad Wasim, 28, and Mohammad Asif, 34, residents of Mundera village under Dhumanganj police station in Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh. During a detailed search, police found chilli sacks on the upper layer, while 440 packets of cannabis weighing 440.63 kg in total wrapped in tape were concealed underneath.

 

Police estimated the value of the seized cannabis at Rs 2,20,31,500 and the minitruck at around Rs 20 lakh, taking the total value of the seizure to approximately Rs 2.40 crore. A case has been registered against the two accused at Tapkara police station under Section 20(b) of the NDPS Act. Police said both would be formally arrested and produced for judicial remand. During preliminary questioning, the accused allegedly stated that the cannabis had been sourced from the Baudh region of Odisha and was being transported to Prayagraj. SSP Lal Umed Singh said the latest seizure was a significant action under Operation Aaghat and that the police were investigating the entire network, including the source of the cannabis and its intended recipient.